Jazz up the Park - Update from the Bandshell volunteers

A message from the Fonthill Bandshell Volunteers:

It's been the hope of the dedicated group of Bandshell volunteers for several years to see the park surrounding the bandshell upgraded, and with the help of many, including this huge bunch from Dekorte's landscaping, several men from Nature's Own landscape & design, and the Bandshell volunteers, all there for the final day of sod installation on Saturday.

The gently sloped natural amphitheater was pitted with holes, and erosion had created some hazardous elevation challenges. The Bandshell group reached out to local businesses, Jack DeKorte of  DeKorte's Landscaping and Barb Christopher of Young Sod Farms, for advice on how to best remedy the problems.  With the blessing of Town council to proceed, the Bandshell volunteer committee moved forward with their plans as soon as the summer concert series ended. They have been fund raising and spreading the word about the improvements throughout the community for the last two months, all the while overseeing the local tradespeople who have been busy at Peace Park making the much needed improvements.

If you have been by the park recently, you have seen the busy bees working hard to get everything done before the snow flies! The Bandshell group would like to recognize the various people who have helped bring it to fruition; The Town of Pelham has done a lot of in kind work including moving a catch basin, and removing some dead and damaged trees; and DeKortes Landscaping has done all the excavating and re-grading of the park. They have done an amazing job, provided a very fair discounted price, and came through with scores of workers on site the last two days to see it to the finish line. Young Sod supplied, at a highly reduced cost, the superlative sod material that will withstand the thousands of bandshell attendees for many years to come. BZ Electric donated their services to wire new bollards, lighting and electric outlets for the park. All Green Irrigation installed, at a very favorable price, a new irrigation system for the entire grassed park area. Rankin Construction kindly donated ALL the labour and forming of the new handicapped accessible walkway and steps. Lafarge generously donated a large portion of the concrete.  And the Langendoens, of Willowbrook Nurseries kindly donated a dozen trees to the effort!   On the final sod laying day Nature's Own Landscape and Design sent a team of their workers to help get the job done and our local Tim Horton's and Sobeys made sure all the workers and volunteers were well taken care of!

The Bandshell Volunteers are thrilled with the improvements and very thankful for the generosity of those involved and those sending in donations to cover the costs. The entire park is now gently sloped - "not a bad seat in the house" teased David Swan, one of the bandshell volunteers, surveying the men at work. In the spring, the volunteers hope to see lighting installed, benches added and a granite installation recognizing the many donors who are helping make this happen. They are pleased with the monies they have raised to date, about one third of their total expenses, and have commitments for approximately another third. "But we still need to get the message out", says Bandshell member Gayle Baltjes "that we, your Bandshell volunteers, are the people funding this endeavor. And we have not yet reached our goal of $75,000 in funds. Every little bit helps. Please help ! cheques made payable to 'Jazz up the Park Town of Pelham' can be mailed to P.0 Box 21 Fonthill L0S 1E0." Jim Casson, another bandshell volunteer added "we have given the community 14 years of our time and dedication to the concert series, the park was showing the effects, now we have readied it to for the next 20 years."  With snow in the air, we are all looking forward to another summer at the Fonthill Bandshell.  Can't come soon enough!

Sincerely, Your Fonthill Bandshell Concert Volunteers 

Bryan Baltjes, Gayle Baltjes, Ray Barlow, Jill Cappa, Jim Casson, Annie Holtby, Wayne Hosick, Gail Levay, Carolyn Mullin, David Swan, Marlene Taylor, Liz Triano, Sandra Warden